Concealed locking means for rotatable windows

ABSTRACT

A concealed locking means for a window mounted for rotation about a vertical axis within a fixed frame, the locking means being disposed adjacent the vertical axis and normally limiting the angular movement of the window; the locking means being accessible for release upon such limited angular movement to permit 180* pivotal movement of the window before relocking the window.

United States Patent [1 1 Anderberg et a1.

[ Oct. 30, 1973 CONCEALED LOCKING MEANS FOR ROTATABLE WINDOWS Inventors: Axel W. Anderberg, 1437 Bluebird Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. 90069;

George A. Taylor, La Creseenta, Calif.

Assignee: said Anderberg, by said Taylor Filed: Oct. 4, 1972 Appl. No.: 294,972

U.S. Cl 49/390, 16/144, 49/394, 292/175 Int. Cl..... E06b 3/40, E05b 65/06, E05c 17/06 Field of Search.... 49/390, 392, 393, 49/394; 16/144; 292/D1G. 17, DIG. 62, 106, 107, 175

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1969 Rothemund 49/390 If Z7 Barrs 16/144 X Young 4. 16/144 Primary ExaminerMervin Stein Assistant Examiner-Philip C. Kannan Attorney-Charles G. Lyon et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A concealed locking means for a window mounted for rotation about a vertical axis within a fixed frame, the locking means being disposed adjacent the vertical axis and normally limiting the angular movement of the window; the locking means being accessible for release upon such limited angular movement to permit 180 pivotal movement of the window before relocking the window.

5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures CONCEALED LOCKING MEANS FOR, ROTATABLE WINDOWS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Windows, particularly those installed in multiple story office buildings, often comprise fixed metal frames set in a wall of a building and arranged to receive rotatable metal frames containing window panes. The frames of each window are joined top and bottom. at their midpoints by journals permitting 180 rotation of the movable window frame about a vertical axis so that the normally outer side of the window pane faces inward to permit cleaning. Flexible seal strips extend around the movable frame and, when the window is closed, engage the fixed frame. Often two sets of seals are used. 1

The need for 180 movement of the window is to permit washing from the inside of the building. However, the windows may extend from floor to ceiling and, regardless of height, should not be readily opened to, for example, a 90 position by an occupant of the building as .the attendant hazard of falling out is a serious one. Thus, a lock is essential; however, the presence of a conventional lock seriously interferes with the operation of the sealing means, often damaging it to cause leakage. Also, conventional locks are relatively expensive and bulky and require a more expensive frame structure to accommodate them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a locking means for windows rotatable about a vertical axis and is summarized in the following objects:

First, to provide a locking means which fits between and is entirely concealed within the fixed window frame for engagement by the movable window frame and limits the amount of movement to the extent that the window may normally be opened for ventilation but not enough to pose a hazard or to permit a passage of a person inwardly or outwardly through the window.

Second, to provide a locking means, as indicated in the preceding object, which does not interfere with the window sealing means or come in contact with the sealing means to cause damage whatsoever thereto; also the locking means is compact and of rugged construction permitting the use of frame structures not designed for conventional locking means.

Third, to provide a window locking means wherein the window may be moved without use of a lock or latching means to an initial venting position; then, in such position of the window, the locking means is exposed for operation by a special tool in order to move the window to full open or reverse position; however, if desired, the locking means may, when exposed, be arranged for manual release.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1' is a fragmentary side view of a typical window as it would appear when placed in a wall.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken through 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal view taken through 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken through 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken through 55 of FIG. 3 showing the locking means in the position assumed when the window is in its closed position.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5 indicating the locking means when the window has moved angularly a predetermined limited distance, the rotatable window'frame being indicated by broken outline.

FIG. 7 is a similar view showing the locking means turned 90 and also indicating by broken outline the position of the rotatable window frame.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the unlocking tool.

The locking means may be adapted to various types of rotatable window construction providing that space is available to receive the locking means. An example of a conventional window construction is shown and includes a fixed outer frame '1 forming an inwardly facing channel 2, defined by inturned side walls 3 and a connecting web 4. The fixed outer frame also includes means for installation in a wall which may include an outwardly facing channel 5.

The window construction also includes a rotatable window frame 6 having a tubular portion 7 of rectangular cross section, the inward side of which is provided with suitable window mounting means 8, indicated in FIG. 2, in which is fitted one or possibly two window panes 9 indicated in FIG. 1.

The rotatable window frame 6 forms an outwardly facing central channel 10, bordered by side channels 11. The side channels are adapted to receive seal strips 12, which engage the inturned side walls 3 of the fixed outer frame, so that when the window is closed its rotatable frame 6 is sealed withrespect to the fixed outer frame 1. The construction so far described is conventional.

In order to permit rotation of the window about a vertical axis, the frames 1 and 6 are joined at their upper sides by a conventional pivot means 13, and are journalled at their lower sides by pivot means forming a part of the present invention.

The portions of the channels 2 and 10 provided in the lower sides of the frames 1 and 6 are disposed when the windows are closed in confronting relation, as shown in FIG. 2. Secured to the web 4 of the outer frame 1 by screws 14 is a mounting plate 15. Secured to the wall of the tubular portion 7 forming part of the central channel 10 is a mounting plate 16 secured by screws 17.

Received in the mounting plate 16 is a pivot pin 18 having a square shank l9 and terminating in a journal portion 20. The square shank 19 receives a collar 21 and a keeper disk 22. The keeper disk includes diametrically disposed arcuate end portions 23 having keeper notches 24 therein. The keeper disk is disposed within the channel 2 and .is dimensioned for rotation therein, the end portions passing under the inturned side walls 3.

Secured on the mounting plate 15 by tongue and groove connections 25 and screws 26 is a bolt housing 27. The housing 27 is provided with a longitudinal channel which receives a slidable bolt 28 positioned to engage the keeper disk 22 and enter either of the keeper notches 24.

The bolt extends radially from the axis of the pivot pin 18 and its outer extremity receives a pin 29 secured to an extension strip 30, which terminates in a hook end 31 disposed at the radially outer end of the bolt housing 27, A pin 32 extends upwardly from the mounting plate under the extension strip 30 and a spring 33 is disposed between the pin 32 and the radially outer end of the bolt 29. The spring urges the bolt into contact with the keeper disk 22 and its keeper notches 24.

Operation of the locking means is as follows:

When the window and its rotatable window frame 6 is in a closed position with respect to the outer frame 1, such as represented in FIGS. 3 and 5, the bolt engages a keeper notch 24 and is inaccessible for disengagement. However, the keeper notch has an arcuate dimension greater than the bolt so that the window and its rotatable frame 6 may be moved arcuately a limited distance as represented in FIG. 6. When the frame 6 is in this position, the radially outer extremity of the mounting plate 15 is exposed so that the hook end 31 of the extension strip 30 is accessible. For this purpose, an unlocking tool 34 is provided having a hook end 35 engageable with the hook end 31 so that the bolt 28 may be withdrawn from the corresponding keeper notch 24. By simultaneously turning the window frame 6 a short distance, the keeper notch 24 clears the bolt 28 permitting the window and its rotatable frame 6 to be turned through the 90 position shown in FIG. 7 to a 180 position in which the window and its rotatable frame is closed within the outer frame; however, the normally outer side of the window is now facing inward, and the bolt 28 engages the other keeper notch 24.

In order that the keeper disk 22 may be passed through the space between the inturned walls 3 during assembly, opposite sides of the keeper disk are flattened as indicated by 36 and their extremities form cam portions 37, so as to force the bolt to retract and ride on the corresponding arcuate portion 23.

Normally the window is arranged so that its outer side does, in fact, face outwardly. It may be pivoted a limited distance for purposes of ventilation. However, this limited distance is not sufficient to permit exit or access through the window. Only by operation of the unlocking tool 34 can the window be rotated further. By turning the window so that its normally outer side faces inward, the window may be readily cleaned. During the cleaning operation, the window is also locked against all but limited movement so that this may be accomplished safely. Then, upon completion of the cleaning operation, the window may be rotated to its normal position.

While a particular embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the same to the details of the construction set forth, but instead, the invention embraces such changes, modifications and equivalents of the various parts and their relationships as come within the purview of the appended claims.

We claim:

I. A locking means for a window structure including a fixed frame, a rotatable frame containing a window, a top pivot means joining the frames at their top ends, the fixed and rotatable frames having confronting channel portions at their lower ends, said locking means comprising:

a. confronting mounting means disposed in the channel portions at the lower ends of the frames;

b. bottom pivot means, in coaxial relation to the top pivot means, connecting the mounting means, the

bottom pivot means being secured against movement relative to one of the mounting means but journaled in the other mounting means;

c. a keeper member secured to the bottom pivot means against relative rotation thereon and including at least one keeper notch directed horizontally and longitudinally with respect to the channel portions when the window structure is closed; and

d. a bolt carried by said other mounting means for horizontal and longitudinal movement with respect to its corresponding channel portion for engagement with the keeper notch when the window structure is closed and wherein said bolt is concealed, the interconnection between the keeper notch and bolt being sufficiently loose to permit predetermined limited relative pivotal movement of the frame; the bolt being accessible, upon such limited relative pivotal movement, for disengagement from the keeper to permit further rotational movement of the frames.

2. A locking means as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. the keeper is a disk having diametrically disposed pair of keeper notches selectively receiving the bolt to position the rotatable frame with either side facing inward with respect to the fixed frame, the keeper notches extending arcuately to permit said limited relative rotational movement of the frames.

3. A locking means as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. the end of the bolt is concealed in its mounting means when said frames are coplanar bur accessible to a manually manipulative tool when the window structure frames are in angular relation.

4. A locking means for a window structure including a fixed frame, a rotatable frame containing a window, a top pivot means joining the frames at their top ends, the fixed and rotatable frames having confronting channel portions at their lower ends, said locking means comprising:

a. a first mounting plate in the channel portion of the rotatable frame;

b. a second mounting plate in the channel portion of the fixed frame;

0. a shaft secured to the first mounting plate and including a pivot portion journalled in a bearing formed in the second mounting plate;

d. a keeper disk secured to the shaft, the first mounting plate, shaft and keeper disk being movable as a unit with the rotatable frame, the keeper disk having at least one radially directed keeper notch;

e. a bolt extending radially from the keeper disk;

f. a guide means for the bolt carried by the second mounting plate to permit movement of the bolt into and out of engagement with the keeper disk; and

g. a spring urging the bolt into engagement with the keeper plate and notch therein, the notch permitting limited arcuate movement of the rotatable frame, sufficient to provide access to the bolt, thereby to permit release of the bolt from the keeper and further rotation of the rotatable frame and window carried thereby.

5. A locking means as defined in claim 4, wherein:

a. the keeper disk is provided with a pair of diametrically disposed keeper notches for positioning the rotatable frame and its window either side outward when the frames are disposed in a building wall. 

1. A locking means for a window structure including a fixed frame, a rotatable frame containing a window, a top pivot means joining the frames at their top ends, the fixed and rotatable frames having confronting channel portions at their lower ends, said locking means comprising: a. confronting mounting means disposed in the channel portions at the lower ends of the frames; b. bottom pivot means, in coaxial relation to the top pivot means, connecting the mounting means, the bottom pivot means being secured against movement relative to one of the mounting means but journaled in the other mounting means; c. a keeper member secured to the bottom pivot means against relative rotation thereon and including at least one keeper notch directed horizontally and longitudinally with respect to the channel portions when the window structure is closed; and d. a bolt carried by said other mounting means for horizontal and longitudinal movement with respect to its corresponding channel portion for engagement with the keeper notch when the window structure is closed and wherein said bolt is concealed, the interconnection between the keeper notch and bolt being sufficiently loose to permit predetermined limited relative pivotal movement of the frames; the bolt being accessible, upon such limited relative pivotal movement, for disengagement from the keeper to permit further rotational movement of the frames.
 2. A locking means as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. the keeper is a disk having diametrically disposed pair of keeper notches selectively receiving the bolt to position the rotatable frame with either side facing inward with respect to the fixed frame, the keeper notches extending arcuately to permit said limited relative rotational movement of the frames.
 3. A locking means as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. the eNd of the bolt is concealed in its mounting means when said frames are coplanar bur accessible to a manually manipulative tool when the window structure frames are in angular relation.
 4. A locking means for a window structure including a fixed frame, a rotatable frame containing a window, a top pivot means joining the frames at their top ends, the fixed and rotatable frames having confronting channel portions at their lower ends, said locking means comprising: a. a first mounting plate in the channel portion of the rotatable frame; b. a second mounting plate in the channel portion of the fixed frame; c. a shaft secured to the first mounting plate and including a pivot portion journalled in a bearing formed in the second mounting plate; d. a keeper disk secured to the shaft, the first mounting plate, shaft and keeper disk being movable as a unit with the rotatable frame, the keeper disk having at least one radially directed keeper notch; e. a bolt extending radially from the keeper disk; f. a guide means for the bolt carried by the second mounting plate to permit movement of the bolt into and out of engagement with the keeper disk; and g. a spring urging the bolt into engagement with the keeper plate and notch therein, the notch permitting limited arcuate movement of the rotatable frame, sufficient to provide access to the bolt, thereby to permit release of the bolt from the keeper and further rotation of the rotatable frame and window carried thereby.
 5. A locking means as defined in claim 4, wherein: a. the keeper disk is provided with a pair of diametrically disposed keeper notches for positioning the rotatable frame and its window either side outward when the frames are disposed in a building wall. 